Remo Stars celebrated a first-ever League triumph in Ikenne on Sunday, after coming from a goal down to wallop visiting Ikorodu City by four goals in the final Southwest derby of the season.
As the trophy was presented to Remo Stars captain Nduka Junior, and as he hoisted it aloft, the roar in Ikenne soared to the heavens—a thunderous salute to the people’s champions.
Fifteen years after their founding, and a quarter-century since Julius Berger last lifted the crown, Daniel Ogunmodede’s side brought the long-awaited league title back to the Southwest in a season defined by resilience and redemption.
From tussling with Shooting Stars after seizing the driving seat midway through the season to going toe-to-toe with Rivers United, the champions proved they had learned from past near-misses— kept their head fixed to see out the challenge.
Thousands of fans turned out in full force to witness the Sky Blues crowned with a well-deserved league title in their final home game of the season, having sealed the triumph with last weekend’s win over Niger Tornadoes.
Ikorodu City, chasing a continental ticket in their debut top-flight campaign, threatened to spoil the party—taking a surprise lead against the run of play late in the first quarter through Tosin Oyedokun.
Unfazed, the champions roared back with four goals of their own, preserving an unbeaten home record in both the league and the southwest derby—where they have now claimed five wins from six, dropping points only in a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture against Sunday’s visitors.
Remo Stars had won 16 of 18 home games prior to kickoff and drew level seven minutes before the break, capitalizing on a defensive lapse that left Sikiru Alimi with just the goalkeeper to beat.
The striker tapped in from close range for his first goal since opening the scoring in a 2-1 home win over Kano Pillars on February 8, ending a 13-game goal drought in the Nigerian Premier Football League.
Just three minutes later, the comeback was complete—Bello Babatunde danced into the final third with a brilliant solo run before setting up Ibrahim Shuaib for a composed finish that left the goalkeeper in no man’s land.
Ikorodu City were offered no route back as the hosts struck again early in the second half to extend their lead and cement a deserved cushion.
Remo Stars won a corner straight from the restart, regained possession in the box, and worked it cleverly for Bello Babatunde to lash home, capping off a superb performance after his earlier assist for the go-ahead goal before the break.
The ever-reliable Olamilekan Adedayo sealed the rout seven minutes past the hour, breaking the visitors’ high line before calmly slotting past the helpless goalkeeper to make it 4-1 for the hosts.
From there, it was all about game management, as the champions comfortably saw out their 17th home win of the NPFL season—finishing the day on 71 points, and overtaking Enugu Rangers’s total of 70 in the previous league campaign.
The full-time whistle sparked jubilant celebrations at the Bet9ja Stadium, with dignitaries including Ogun State Governor, Engineer Dapo Abiodun, NFF President Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, and NPFL Chairman, Gbenga Elegbeleye, in attendance.
Remo Stars’ triumph marks a historic milestone for Ogun State, which had never produced a national top-flight league champion since its inauguration in 1976.
Until now, Abiola Babes’ victory in the old Challenge Cup—now the Federation Cup—stood as the state’s only major top-flight silverware. With this achievement, the Ikenne-based Sky Blues have delivered Ogun State its first-ever national league title.
The priority in their final game of the season away to Bayelsa United will be winning, as they aim to reach 74 points, which will see them surpass Dolphins’ 2010/11 haul of 73 points to claim the second-highest total in league history.
Rivers United’s all-time record of 77 points, set in the 2021/22 season, however, remains out of reach.
Names of League Champions with Remo Stars
Coach: Daniel Ogunmodede
Goalkeepers: Obassa Adebiyi, Kayode Bankole, Biola Ibrahim.
Defenders: Nduka Junior, Sodiq Ismail, Ahmed Akinyele, Ibrahim Abubakar, Emmanuel Isaac, Seun Ogunribigbe, Emmanuel Nwokeji, Fabian Nworie, Stanley Joseph, Ifeanyi Anaemena, Oluwasegun Aremu, Iwueke Obiuto, Boniface Nwaeze, Ismael Souley, Ebuka Anthony, Mutiu Dauda.
Midfielders: Olamilekan Adedayo, Tochukwu Michael, Qudus Akanni, Bello Babatunde, Shuaib Ibrahim, Haruna Hadi, Alex Oyowah, ThankGod Ikeagwu, Shuaibu AbdulRasaq, Odunsi Oluwaseun, Michael Ibe.
Forwards: Samuel Anakwe, Sikiru Alimi, Franck Mauena, Samson Olasupo, Jabal Malik, Danjuma Masud, Joseph Abah, Peter Onuoha,
Kehinde-Hassan Afolabi
